First batch of Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims cross over to Tibet

Fifty one members of the first batch of Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims crossed over to Tibet on Wednesday from 17,500 feet high Lipulekh Pass in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, ITBP and KMVN sources said.

Pithoragarh: Fifty one members of the first batch of Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims crossed over to Tibet on Wednesday from 17,500 feet high Lipulekh Pass in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, ITBP and KMVN sources said.

"All members of the first batch are hale hearty and they braved the two km track on snow at the Pass to reach the Chinese territory," said Ranvir Singh, an ITBP officer.

The batch will stay inside China for the next nine days.

"The batch will spend nine days inside Chinese territory of Tibet where pilgrims will have a glimpse of Kailas and take dip in the sacred Mansarovar Lake," said DK Sharma, general manager of tourism at Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN), nodal agency for the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage.

The first batch, which had to cross over to China on June 20, was delayed for six days due to bad weather in this part of the Himalayas.

Besides this batch, journey of other eight batches have been suspended by the External Affairs Ministry after consultation with Chinese authorities due to broken roads and bridges on the route.

A decision on rest of the batches for the pilgrimage will be taken at a meeting scheduled on July 3 at Delhi.